A former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku has reached a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in an alleged N1.6 billion fraud case.
During a hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, EFCC Counsel Ogechi Ujam informed Justice James Omotosho that Nwabuoku and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke, had submitted a settlement proposal.
Ujam stated that the proposed agreement had been sent to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede for approval. Both defendants’ legal representatives confirmed their intention to pursue a plea bargain. The court has adjourned the case until December 2 for the adoption of the plea bargain agreement.
Nwabuoku and Nweke are facing 11 counts of money laundering related to the alleged fraud, which is believed to have occurred while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence from 2019 to 2021. Nwabuoku was briefly appointed acting AGF in May 2022 after his predecessor, Ahmed Idris, was suspended due to separate corruption allegations.
READ ALSO: Ex-Accountant General begs for time to refund looted funds
Credible News recalls that on July 11, Anamekwe Nwabuoku pleaded with Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja to give him more time to conclude the refund of the public funds allegedly looted by him and his co-defendant.
While Nwabuoku is the first defendant, Nweke is the second defendant in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24 dated May 20 and filed on May 27 by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho.
Nwabuoku was appointed acting AGoF on May 20, 2022, under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari after Ahmed Idris was suspended as AGF over alleged N80bn fraud.
He was, however, removed in July 2022, a few weeks after assuming office. When the matter was called on July 11, the defendants prayed the court to halt their arraignment until another date to perfect the refund.
Nweke’s lawyer, Emeka Onyeaka, informed the court that there was a new development in the case. He told the court that his client had taken steps towards settling the matter. The lawyer said Nweke had made substantial refunds of the money traced to him by the anti-graft agency.
“The second defendant has taken steps, as there is a communication to the commission via-a-vs the alleged offences on making a refund. The commission is in receipt of the money and promised to communicate to us,” he said.
Credible News.ng
